CODESCODES OFOF THETHE WESTWEST West Coast microbreweries step up their product coding game to ride the rising market tide for canned craft beer See stories on pages 15 & 19 IN THIS ISSUE: PACKAGING FOR FRESHNESS • AUTOMATE NOW NEW MODULAR CELL Our modular case packing cell can be incorporated within any existing or new PICK & PLACE packaging process. Learn more about our flexible end of line AFFORDABLY solutions at www.paxiom.com/pickplace LAS VEGAS • MIAMI • MILWAUKEE • MONTREAL • TORONTO 1.833.4paxiom paxiom.com CPK_Paxiom_June18_CSA.indd 1 2018-05-22 10:51 AM The smarter way to print is with true CIJ innovation 4 3 2 1 It’s here! The new Videojet 1860 Continuous Inkjet Printer 1. True predictability 2. True remote services* 3. True IP rating 4. 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We reserve the right to alter design and/or specifi cations without notice. CPK_Videojete_June.indd 1 2017-06-09 1:58 PM Domino Ax-Series: Coding Without Compromise Rethinking Ink Jet Rethinking Value . Fast changeover and start-up . Service-free Rethinking . Optimum ink usage, Print Quality life and yield . Variable droplets . Clean, crisp codes . Enhanced for human and machine readability Rethinking Performance . Large volumes of data . Highest throughput . Flexible deployment Designed by Customers, Engineered by Domino The way we think about it, if you want to improve your products, listen to your customers. So we did. We learned from your coding experiences and studied the regulatory, environmental and supply chain pressures you face. And then we deconstructed Continous Ink Jet as we've known it for the past four decades - before rebuilding it as a better, faster, more responsive and cost effective solution. Experience the Domino Ax-Series and rethink Continuous Ink Jet. THE RULES To find out more or to book a demo visit www.ax-series.com CPK_Dominio_JanFeb18_CSA.indd 1 2018-02-05 9:08 AM UPFRONT NO LONGER JUST A PIPEDREAM t feels almost surreal, but after By enacting cannabis legislation across the coun- decades of hostile opposition try, Ottawa automatically removes many of the legal Ifrom political and law enforce- and regulatory obstacles to the production, distribu- ment establishments still prevalent tion and supply chain efficiencies still plaguing the JUNE 2018 in most industrialized nations, budding U.S. weed industry—providing a once-in- VOLUME 71, NO. 6 marijuana legalization will be a real thing in Canada a-lifetime opportunity for Canadian packaging com- SENIOR PUBLISHER by summer’s end. And while it will be far from panies to get an all-important head start before their Domino Ax-Series: Stephen Dean • (416) 510-5198 warmly embraced by all sectors of the society, for the U.S. counterparts get over their initial hesitation. [email protected] Canadian packaging industry and profession it will To some extent, it’s happening already. According EDITOR be the closest thing to Christmas arriving early. to a new report from the U.S. packaging industry Coding Without George Guidoni • (416) 510-5227 No longer to be confined to hand-packed nickel group PMMI-The Association for Packaging [email protected] and dime bags hustled at seedy street corners, the and Processing Technologies, the breathtaking FEATURES EDITOR promise of unveiling a whole new consumer market growth in legal cannabis sales in the U.S. promises Andrew Joseph • (416) 510-5228 sector guessstimated to be worth at least $10 billion lucrative rewards for those willing to take the risk. Compromise [email protected] a year is naturally fueling high expectations among “In the past five years, the [U.S.], cannabis industry MEDIA DESIGNER many entrepreneurial startups and established firms has grown by over 200 per cent, as more states began Brooke Shaw • (519) 428-3471 aiming to profit from the coming cannabis boom and legalizing some marijuana use for medical purposes,” Rethinking Ink Jet [email protected] spinoff stimuli uleashed by industrial-scale produc- says the PMMI study, aptly titled Here to Stay or Up ACCOUNT COORDINATOR tion, retailing and packaging of recreational weed. in Smoke? Barb Comer • (888) 599-2228 ext 210 Although some provincial governments have “Last year, the industry topped US$7.3 billion to [email protected] already proclaimed they will subject cannabis pack- record 35-percent growth over 2015, which is higher CIRCULATION MANAGER aging to the same heavy-handed ‘plain packaging’ than the dot-com and broadband booms and which Anita Madden • (416) 442-5600 x3596 AMadden@@annexbusinessmedia.com approach used to regulate Big Tobacco, common many believe is conservative,” PMMI points out. sense dictates you must have high-quality packaging “When sales were under US$5 billion, most VICE PRESIDENT products to support any industry of that size. packaging companies were not willing to invest in Tim Dimopoulos • [email protected] And with Canada being only the second country creating new products specifically for the cannabis Rethinking PRESIDENT & CEO Mike Fredericks in the world to legalize recreational pot use nation- industry,” PMMI states, “preferring instead to bor- wide, Canadian-based producers and distributors of row and adapt packaging from other industries such Value ANNEX BUSINESS MEDIA packaging machinery and materials are in the best as pharmaceutical and cosmetics. Fast changeover and 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2H 3R1; position to benefit from the new game-changing “Now, however, with cannabis sales approaching Tel: 416-442-5600. start-up approach to pot consumption and distribution in the US$15 billion, firms are finding it worthwhile to Great White North. develop products specifically designed for the unique . Service-free Canadian Packaging, established 1947, is published 10 times per year except for occasional combined, expanded or premium issues, which count While the number of U.S. states that have legalized needs of cannabis companies.” as two subscription issues. Rethinking . Optimum ink usage, medical and/or recreational marijuana continues to As always, money changes everything, and with PRINTED IN CANADA life and yield ISSN 008-4654 (PRINT), ISSN 1929-6592 (ONLINE) grow, the painstaking pace with which this is done legalization just around the corner, any latecomers to Print Quality across the country in an uneven patchwork manner what may be our packaging industry’s biggest party PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40065710 has left many major packaging suppliers there reluc- this century will only have themselves to blame. Variable droplets CIRCULATION tant to enter the market in a meaningful way. George Guidoni, Editor e-mail: [email protected] . Clean, crisp codes Tel: 416-442-5600 ext. 3555 Fax: 416-510-6875 or 416-442-2191 . Enhanced for human and Mail: 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 machine readability SUBSCRIPTION PRICE PER YEAR (INCLUDING ANNUAL BUYERS’ GUIDE): COVER STORY Canada $77.00 per year, USA $135.00 US per year, Outside Canada $153.50 US per year, Single Copy Canada $10.00, Outside Canada $27.10. 15&19 CODES OF THE WEST From time to time Canadian Packaging will mail information on behalf of By Andrew Joseph industry-related groups whose products and services we believe may be of As Canadian microbreweries increasingly turn to canned beer as their primary Rethinking interest to you. If you prefer not to receive this information, please contact our product, the importance of choosing the proper product marking and labeling circulation department in any of the four ways listed above. systems to market their brands cannot be overstated. ANNEX PRIVACY OFFICER Cover photography by David Buzzard Performance [email protected] Phone: 800-668-2374 . Large volumes of data DISCLAIMER: No part of the editorial content of this publication may be DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS FEATURES . Highest throughput reprinted without the publisher’s written permission. ©2018 Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. All rights reserved. This publication is for informational 3 UPFRONT By George Guidoni purposes only. The content and “expert” advice presented are not intended as 23 SHELLING OUT By George Guidoni . Flexible deployment a substitute for informed professional engineering advice. You should not act New Brunswick lobster meat processor uses advanced on information contained in this publication without seeking specific advice 4-6 NEWSPACK from qualified engineering professionals. Canadian Packaging accepts no The latest packaging news. vacuum-packing technology to maintain brisk market responsibility or liability for claims